Intercontinental Chicago O'Hare

The 556 Guest Suite Intercontinental Chicago O’Hare was developed as a backdrop for an art museum concept. The area’s first “hotel as museum” project includes an on-site curator and was built to highlight the work of local established and emerging artists in the permanent collection including Wesley Kimler, Tony Fitzpatrick, Jay Ryan, Jason Peot and Thomas Masters, to name a few. Galleries were also designed into the plan to hold a revolving collection of works for sale to the public. The Interior Architecture throughout was planned, detailed and designed as a museum experience and allowed the design team to reconsider traditional conceptions of hotel design. Specific emphasis was placed on how the guest experiences axial views to important works, the pacing and discovery of the collection and how that experience translates from the Public Areas to the Guest Suites in order to reinforce the design concept and provide a comfortable, luxurious guest accommodation. The interior shape and finishes of millwork, limestone, and gypsum recall a minimalist museum architectural vocabulary that is balanced by the warmth and textures of the material selections.